Lawmakers poised to approve Mindanao-wide martial law

LAWMAKERS led by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday expressed support to President Rodrigo Duterte after his declaration of martial law in conflict-torn Mindanao.

Both houses of Congress are mandated by the Constitution to convene 48 hours immediately after the President’s proclamation, with a power to either revoke or extend its scope.

In an ambush interview, Alvarez said that Duterte has the power to put parts of the country under military rule.

“[T]ama lang yung ginawa ng ating Presidente sa aking pananaw. Bilang isang taga-Mindanao ay talagang merong kaguluhan na nangyayari doon at ito ay matagal nang dinudusa ng ating bayan,” Alvarez said.

According to Alvarez, the decision of the President to declare martial law over the entire Mindanao was “justified” to prevent spillover of attacks in the other unaffected areas.

“Tama lang po ‘yun. Kasi po ang terrorism hindi lang po..maaaring yung kaguluhan ay nasa Marawi ngayon pero yung mga terrorista I think are everywhere. I’m sure everywhere in Mindanao and if not sa buong Pilipinas,” the House Speaker said.

Marawi City was attacked by the Isis-inspired Maute Group late Tuesday, which reportedly

took over some establishments that resulted in a total black out in the entire city.

Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon said he approves of the decision of the President to put Mindanao under military rule.

“I think yung martial law naman na dineclare ng pangulo ay appropriate para sa crisis na hinaharap natin ngayon...Importante yun para matiyak natin na sa ibang lugar ng Mindanao ay mananatili ang katahimikan,” Biazon said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque cautioned the government to uphold its duty under international law to extend humane treatment to the civilians caught in the crossfire in Marawi City.

“Both civilians and civilian objects or properties are protected under the laws of armed conflict by the principle of distinction,” Roque said.

Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo, for his part, lauded Duterte for his “swift” response to the Mindanao conflict.

“President Duterte acted decisively and with the best interest of the country in mind in placing Mindanao under martial law for 60 days to fully address raging lawlessness and terrorist activities,” he said.

“As a member of the Congress, I fully support the President’s decision, prompted by the clashes between government troops and the Maute and IS (Islamic State) terrorist groups in Marawi City,” Castelo added.

Minor Arbison of Sulu said the attacks in Marawi should serve as a wakeup call for the government.

“The current attack of Marawi City is a wakeup call for the government to spare no holy cows in pulverizing and wiping out the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute Group who have already pledged loyalty Isis,” Arbison said.

Davao Representative Karlo Nograles meanwhile allayed fears that Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao is only “a temporary set-up” to thwart further escalation of terrorist attacks in the region.

“I am 100 percent sure that the people of Mindanao are behind President Duterte in his decision to declare Martial Law in the region...President Duterte was correct in placing Mindanao under martial law,” Nograles said.

His brother Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist Representative Jericho Nograles also expressed support for Duterte’s move as he pointed out the danger to the country’s internal security.

“We are no longer dealing with armed groups only fighting for territory and independence. We are now dealing with heavily armed, drug-crazed extremists who simply want to terrorize our people. The President needs extra-ordinary powers to deal with these bandits,” said Nograles.

However, some lawmakers are not convinced that martial law will answer the crisis in Mindanao.

Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano said that military rule in Mindanao is “worrisome” as the attacks of Maute were only isolated in Marawi City.

“Declaring the entire Mindanao under martial law is worrisome considering that Maute attacks are confined only in Lanao Sur province. Citing security problems aside from Maute in Western and Central Mindanao as the reasons why the declaration covers the entire Mindanao is something that we should consider deeply,” he said.

Gabriela Women’s Party also expressed their opposition to Duterte’s move.

“We oppose President Duterte’s declaration of martial law for the entirety of Mindanao as it signals the full-throttle militarist solution to the crisis, endangering more civilian lives and communities...Such blanket declaration enables the military crackdown on perceived terrorists and enemies of the state not just in Marawi but in other Mindanao cities and provinces as well.” Gabriela said in a statement.

Bayan Muna Representative Isagani Zarate also called on Duterte to revoke his martial law declaration and resist from taking the all-out militarist approach against the crisis.

“We strongly urge Duterte to immediately lift the martial law declaration, especially with the military’s own pronouncement that the affected areas are now ‘under control.’ We believed that the problem with the Maute Group can be handled by the police and the military if they only performed their jobs efficiently.” SunStar Philippines